Fan structure



M. E. LAUTNER March 23, 1954 FAN STRUCTURE Filed Sept. l5, 1951 INVENTOR. 922m: Z Zell/iler W QLWM a??? s.

Patented Mar. 23, 1954 y UNIT-.Eo srsrss fm'fsnr o@lauf-gp;

.STRUCTURE Max E. Lautner, Webster `-(traves, Mo., .fassiginor to Knapp-Monarch Uompanm St. Louis, Mo., -a corporationof Delaware Application xSept'el'ib'er 15, l9'51,ffSeria`l @0524133746 This invention .relates to a combinaties; `or .dual purpose flan structure which .can be used either as 'a directional blast 'type fen er a noor- 'type circulaton On'e .object of the .intention is to :provide 'a support, and o. :fan "structure which the motor and iran may be adjusted .relative to said .support for blowing `air .substantially hori'aontaiiy for 'substantially vertically, a deiector plate fee-ing Vprovided .for :deflecti-ng 'the air radially fin isabstantially horizontal fdirections inthe latter position of the fan.

n Tian of this character requires that air be fblown in .fone 'direct-'ion relative "to the .fan yn'iotor when .the fan `'structune is :adljusted to Je. 'position to :serve as a directional iolast typte .ran

zand .in fthe opposite direction when :it 'is adjusted to serve :asia iloor type circulator. An importent :object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide Aa mea-ns .to electrically reverse the motor i.

'so tha't it will rotate clockwise for "counter-#clock- Wise las required.

.A 'object is to provide Vcrrreans to cause -the electrical `reversing 'to zbe accomplished automatically as a result .of :adjusting the motor for either directional blast opera-tion for i'ifoor circuylater operation.

More specifically., it is an object nf the present 'invention to provide :a reversing `switch 'the motor which :is :so .linked with a shroud iler 'the motor that when the :shroud fis .adjusted for ieither type circulation, 'the' :smtch will automatically ibe ladusted for .forward .er reverse rotation of the motor suitable to cause the fifa-n to blow the air in the proper direction..

,Stillfsa #furtherl obj ect :is to pms/.ide the combination of a :reversing .switch ,and .a motor that can be -adjusted with its .ax-is reither` vertical or hori- -zonaL the :motor being pirated to a support and the switch 'being `so `connected with the .motor fand the support that it will 'electrically reverse the motor to :cause rotation of the vran fol-ados "in the proper direction corresponding 'to the 'ardy g'ustrnent of the motor relative to the support.

With these and :other `obgects 'in View., any 1invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various vparts of 'fm-y ian struct-ure, 'whereby the objects contemplated vlare attained, as hereinafter more fully set aiorth,

pointed out .in my `claims .and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l fis `a front elevation of ra'ian structure .embodying Ymy present "invention and showing it r:adiusted for directional blast operation "in a horizontal direction.

4Figure 2 is aside elevation :thereof showing the `lian adjusted to e. ,position for throw-ing the air in a slightly upward direction.

vdig-ure -3 is :a iside elevation nshowing the :fan structure adjusted to :serve-as a floor type'cir L1 Glaims. (Cl. 23o-25,9)

.2 culator., the exis of the anin this vinstance being Vertical.

Figure 4 is ian `enlarged sectional view of ya fpiortion of .Figure .il :as taken Zon the yline 4-"4 thereof, endshowing Hafreiie'rsingswitch and themeans .for `:automatica'liy oper-ating the same, v'several positions of the :switch being .shown by Edotted lines and the Aligure.including `an elfeotrodiagrani of the fan motor.

Figure 5 is a ldetail sectional View on the Vline 5-5 of Figure s; @and Figure y6 is .'a View siml'ar to .Figure 4 showing a'modiied construction using a mercury Itygpe switch.

@n the accompanying drawing .I have -used the yreiererme :numerals -ll and `11'2 to indicate a support formed of tubular metal (or the like. The vportion Il? vthereof is `substantial-1y U-shaped and 'is adapted to rest on a .iloor I3 for other supporting sur-face. The portions :i2 are-uprights or supporting posts for 'a substantially fcylindrical shroud 18. As Ashown Tin detail in Figure i5,.,:pivfot bolts IB are provided for connecting the :shroud I8 tothe posts 12,'and :lock ynuts 14 kare vvthreaded on the pivot Zbolts. One of thegpivot connections involves vurther details of fconstructionas shown in Figure 5 which will be referred to later VAon in the present specification.

The shroud It is vopen iat both ends and there is a wire guard structure for one end consisting `of radial `wires v2i) and a ,pair V`,of circular wires 212, This guard ystructure :has been omitted ytro vFigure 1 toshowotherfdetaiis. c

The other foipen :end of lthe Vshroud `IS .has supported Vin .spaced .relation thereto a deflector plate 2'4. vThe means of fsupporteonsist of v'four posts 2d Vwhich leave an :interveningspace between the dei-lector plate and the shroud :and this is .provided With circular guard wires 28 as illustrated.

Within the shroud .1e .a :fan motor 3d is sup- .ported Yand a :fan .'32 :is mounted thereon. The manner fof support .may consist of :radial wires 34 secured at 36 to the motor l31) and at 38 fto 'the shroud. These are reinforced by circular Wires f4@ and this arrangement, since y'the `wires all, 311 andMl are madeof metal, provides va come* what resilient support zor the motor v-that sminimizes the transmission of vibrations y'froth the motor Ito the vshroud 18 land the :support 't0-ham. The blades of the fan 3.2:are preferably designed .for `substamtial'ly equal enici'ency when .rotating in .either direction.

A shroud, supporting Y'arrangement '.therefor, and fan motor assembly of 'the lclfiarafeter ":thus

f .far described, suitable vsor operation l'either as a directional blast-type circulator :as shown .1in rFigure 2 'or .as aldoor-'type Icirculator as shown -in Figure 3 `when the .motor '3'0 fof -electricalis7 .reversible character so that the dan :blades 132 :may 'b'e :marde to 'rotate in one direction lor alie 3 other for proper circulation of air in the two diierent positions of adjustment of the fan structure. By way of example, in Figure 2 arrows A indicate air flowing into one end of the shroud past the guard wires 28 and flowing out as indicated by arrows B through the guard4 structure 2li-22. This is when the fan rotates counter-clockwise as in Figures 1 and 2.

On the other hand it isidesirable that the fan rotate clockwise when the structure is adjusted as in Figure 3 so that air, as indicated by the arrows C, enters through the guard structure 20--22 and is deflected by the plate 24 to discharge in radially and substantially horizontal directions as indicated by the arrows D.

Avreversing switch may be provided for this purpose and may be manually moved to one position orithe other depending on the position to which the ian structure is adjusted, but it is desirable to have the switch operated automatically inasmuch as in the position of Figure 2 it is desirable only that the air be blown in the direction indicated by the arrows A and B while when the structure is adjusted as in Figure 3 it is desirable only that the direction of the air be reversed as indicated by the arrows C and D. Accordingly, I provide for automatic reversing of the switch.

By way of examples I show a switch 42 in Figure 4 and a mercury switch B2 in Figure 6. The switch 42 in Figure 4 is mounted on the shroud I8 as shown in Figure 1 and is operated by an arm 4t and a spring wire link 4&3. The arm 44 is xed in relation to the support ill-I2 `as by means of a sleeve 52 shown in Figure 5 interposed between the post l2 and the arm Gli, the three being connected against relative rotation as by a pin 54.

The arm 44 is thus in effect stationary as compared to the pivotally mounted shroud iS and the motor 3i) is pivotally movable with the shroud and relative to the support Iii-I2. The spring link 45 is then pivoted at 4B to the arm 4e, the pivot 48, of course, being spaced from the pivot I6 for the shroud and its opposite end is pivoted at 50 to an operating ear 49 of the switch 42. This switch may be a slide-toggle type in which the operating arm 49 carries a bridging contact which bridges a common contact and a counter-clockwise contact ccw, or the common contact 5I and a clockwise contact cw, in different positions of the switch relative to the support lll-I2. The contacts cw and ccw are connected with one of the ends clockwise coils CW and counter-clockwise coils CCW of the motor Sil shown diagrammatically in Figure ll, while the common contact 5I is connected to the opposite ends of these coils.

The coils CVV and CCW are shading coils; whereas the rleld coils of the motor 30 are illustrated at 55 and are in the main circuit, the supply wires being shown at 59 and 6l. An ori-off switch for the motor is shown at 5t. The motor diagram shown is merely by way of illustration; whereas other reversing types of motors and switches may be substituted as desired, the main consideration being that the motor is capable of being electrically reversed and a reversing switch is provided therefor.

As to the operation of this switch, I have shown positions a, b, c, d, and e in Figure 4. The position a is the same as that shown in Figure 2, and the position e corresponds to that shown in Figure 3, the switch having moved through the positions b, c and d as the shroud I8 is pivoted 4 from the position of Figure 2 to the position of Figure 3.

The position b corresponds to a horizontal-axis position of the fan as shown in Figure 1 and in this position the spring link 4E is being shortened between its pivot points 48 and 50. It is still further shortened in the position c and somewhere intermediate this position and position d the pivot 50 reaches its closest point relative to the pivot 48 after which the spring link 46 will expand as from the position illustrated at f to the position illustrated at g and in doing so will open the circuit of the counter-clockwise coils thus reversing the rotation of the motor in Figure 3 relative to the direction of rotation in Figures 1 and 2. In this manner I am able to automatically accomplish electrical reversing of the motor as a resultant of manually changing the fan structure from a position for blast-type circulation to one for floor-type circulation.

In Figure 6 I show a mercury switch 6E! secured to the shroud I8 as by a clamp band 62 and containing the common contact 5I, the clockwise contact cw and the counterclockwise contact cow as in Figure Kl. A comparable electric diagram is shown with clockwise and counter-clockwise coils and field coil 55.

With a mercury type of switch, a mechanical linkage connection as in the type of switch shown in Figure 4 is unnecessary. Instead the mercury switch is merely mounted on the shroud or at least in fixed position relative to the fan motor and at the proper angle for the mercury 64 therein to bridge the contacts 5| and ccw in the Figure 2 position of the fan structure, and bridge the contacts 5l and cw in the Figure 3 position as shown by dotted lines in Figure 6. In either case the motor is automatically electrically reversed at a position of the shroud intermediate its floor circulator position and its directional blast circulator position.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my fan structure without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

l, A ian structure comprising a support, a motor pivotally mounted thereon for its shaft to extend substantially vertically or substantially horizontally, a fan on said shaft, a deiiector plate arranged in a plane transverse to said shaft, said fan when rotating in one direction blowing air upwardly toward said deilector plate when said shaft is substantially vertical, and when rotating in the reverse direction blowing air away from said deflector plate, and a reversing switch operatively connected with said support and said motor to electrically reverse said motor when the motor is pivoted to said position with its shaft extending substantially horizontally.

2. A fan structure comprising a support, a motor pivotally mounted thereon, a fan on the shaft of said motor, a deflector plate, said fan when rotating in one direction blowing air toward said deflector plate when said motor is pivoted to one position, and when rotating in the reverse direction blowing air away from said deilector plate, and a reversing switch operatively connected with said support and said motor to electrically reverse said motor when the motor is pivoted to another position.

ae'raoco 3. A fan structure comprising a support, a motor driven fan pivotally mounted thereon to blow air substantially vertically or substantially horizontally, a deiiector plate spaced from said fan, said fan when rotating in one direction blowing air vertically toward said deflector plate, and when rotating in the reverse direction blowing air away from said deflector plate, and a reversing switch operatively connected with said support and said motor to electrically reverse said motor when said fan is pivoted to said position for blowing air horizontally.

4. In a fan structure of the character disclosed, a support, a tubular shroud pivotally mounted thereon for adjustment to positions withits tubular axis substantially vertical or substantially horizontal, a fan supported in said shroud and in fixed relation thereto, a deflector spaced from one end of said shroud for deflecting air from said fan in substantially radial horizontal directions when said shroud is adjusted to a position with its tubular axis substantially vertical and with said fan discharging air toward said deiiector whereby said fan structure serves as a flo-or type circulator, and a reversing switch for said fan operatively connected with said shroud to reverse the rotation oi said fan when said shroud is adiusted to a position with its tubular axis substantially horizontal whereupon said fan discharges air in the opposite direction relative to said shroud and said fan structure then serves as a directional blast type circulator.

5. In a fan structure, a support, a tubular shroud pivotally mounted thereon for adjustment to positions with its tubular axis substantially vertical or substantially horizontal, a fan in said shroud. a deilector spaced from one end of said shroud for deecting air from said fan when said shroud is adjusted to a position with its tubular axis substantially vertical, said fan then discharging air toward said deflector. and a reversing switch for said fan operatively connected with said shroud to reverse said fan when said shroud is adjusted to a. position with its tubular axis substantially horizontal.

6. A fan structure comprising a support, a motor pivotally mounted thereon for its shaft to extend substantially vertically or substantially horizontally, a fan on said shaft, a deiiector plate arranged in a plane transverse to said shaft, said fan when rotating in one direction blowing air upwardly toward said deector plate when said shaft is substantially vertical, and when rotating in the reverse direction blowing air away from said deflector plate, a reversing switch element for said motor to electrically reverse it, and an operating link element for said switch, one of said elements being connected to said motor and the other of said elements being connected to said support for moving said switch to its reverse position when said motor is moved from said position with its shaft extending substantially vertically to said position with its shaft extending substantially horizontally.

'7. A fan structure comprising a support, a motor pivotally mounted thereon, a fan driven thereby, a deector plate spaced from said fan, said fan when rotating in one direction blowing air upwardly toward said defiector plate when the axis of said fan is substantially vertical, and when rotating in the reverse direction blowing air away from said deflector plate, a reversing switch element for said motor to electrically reverse it, and an operating: link element for said switch, one 'of said elements being connected to said motor and the other of said elements being connected to said support for moving said switch to its reverse position when said motor is moved from said position with the fan axis vertical to said position with the fan axis substantially horizontal.

8. A fan structure comprising a support, a motor pivotally mounted thereon for its shaft to extend substantially vertically or substantially horizontally, a fan on said shaft, a deilector plate arranged in a plane transverse to said shaft, said fan when rotating in one direction blowing air upwardly toward said deflector plate when said shaft is substantially vertical, and when rotating in the reverse direction blowing air away from said defiector plate, and a reversing switch car-- ried by said motor and having a gravity actuated bridging element for forward and reverse contacts of said switch, said bridging element contacting the forward contacts thereof when said motor is adjusted with its shaft extending substantially vertically, and contacting said reverse contacts when said motor is adjusted to said position with its shaft extending substantially horizontally.

9. A fan structure comprising a support, a motor pivotally mounted thereon, a fan driven thereby, a deflector plate, said fan when rotating in one direction blowing air toward said deflector plate, and when rotating in the reverse direction blowing air away from said deflector plate, a reversing switch carried by said motor and having a gravity actuated bridging element for forward and reverse contacts of said switch, said bridging element contacting the forward contacts thereof when said motor is adjusted to one position with said fan structure serving as a floor-type circulator and contacting said reverse contacts when said motor is adjusted to another position with said fan structure serving as a blast-type circulator.

10.In a fan structure, a support, a tubular shroud pivotally mounted thereon for adjustment to positions with its tubular axis substantially vertical or substantially horizontal, a fan in said shroud, a deiiector spaced from one end of said shroud for deiiecting air from said fan when said shroud is adjusted to a position with its tubular axis substantially vertical, said fan then discharging air toward said deflector, a reversing switch for said fan, and operating means for said reversing switch operated by adjustment of said shroud to a position with its tubular axis substantially horizontal.

11. A fan structure comprising a support, a motor pivotally mounted thereon, a fan driven thereby, a deiiector plate spaced from said fan, said fan when rotating in one direction blowing air upwardly toward said defiector plate when the axis of said fan is substantially vertical and when rotating in the reverse direction blowing air away from said deflector plate, a reversing switch for said motor to electrically reverse it, said motor being adjustable to a position for blowing air substantially horizontally and said reversing switch being operated by such adjustment to its motor reversing position.

MAX E. LAUTNER.

References Cited in the le 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,476,692 Bernstein July 19, 1949 2,488,306 Marsalis Nov. l5, 1949 

